Fuse



1,545,139 N. GREENWELL FUSE Filed Apl 6. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fr g.4

,.37 g5 91/ 2a a /z vJuly 7, `1925.

'i Patented July 7, 1925'.

tive shield of a mobile field gun, va fort,.or yany other device which has been erected to protect the `personnel from injury.

=,o'f aii'impenetrahle ytion after the forward motion of the pro- "NiaviL can rusa ' Application led April 6, l923. Serial Ni. 630,364.

j Q `To allqwhom, it may concern.'

State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new andl useful Improvements in Fuses, of

`which the 4following is a specification.

TheV present invention relates to fuses for projectiles. f

. The maximum destructive effect of an explosive projectile used in warfare is produced when itsy explosion takes place after penetratinga protective shield of the enemy such as the armor plate of a warship, the protecthe wall of Time .fuses of various types have been here- .toforedesigned or suggested for the purpose of the projectile after certain length of time following impact. The time required for the fuse to function, where such fuses-are emploved, is fixed by the gunner' before the of causing explosion the `expiration of a -.projectile vis fired andis entirely independ- .cntof the character of the target. lows therefore that when the projectile It folmeets light `resistance the fuse will only .function after it has passed a considerable rdistance beyond the target and oftentimes without serious destructive effect.

, Thr-.object of the present invention is to provide a' fuse, the time of operation of vwliichvfdepefnds entirely upon the character ofthetarget. The gunner, before firing the projectile, need have no exact knowled e of ft.hef.fnature ofthe target,

that is, of its t ickness and strength, and the fuse is so designed and `constructed that it automatically selects `th'ei proper instant to function,vwhich instant will of course vary n in accordance with the. nature of the target which the projectile strikes.l YIn case the target is penetrated by the projectile, the fuse will function immediately after passing therethrough. 1n case target the fusewill funcjectile has been completely arrested and when the projectile has penetrated the same tothe limit ofits capacity, so that its explo,-

In the accompanying drawings, a base detonating. fuse constructed in accordance with the invention is disclosed, but it will be y 1,545,139 1 [UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

l" BETHLEHEH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BE'JEHIIIEHEK STEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

appreciated by those skilled in the art that it may be not only embodied iii a nose deto nating fuse if desired, but' also that the design and arrangement'of the component elements of the invention may be considerably modified without departing from its spirit and scope.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an illustration in longitudinal axial section of the invention incorporated 1n a fuse of the base detonating type, the parts being shown in th positions which they occupy before the` projectile to which the fuse is secui'ed is fired from a gun.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions which they occupy during acceleration of the projectile.

In Figure 3, which is a similar view, the parts are shown in the positionswhich they occupy during the flight of the projectile. I

Figure 4 is a similar view but showing the positions of the parts upon impact.

Figure -5 is also a longitudinal axial section showing the parts in firing position.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Figure 1. A

Figure 7 is an axial section through a fuse which is modified so as to function immediately upon impact of the projectile with the target.

portion of the cylindrical axial recess 14, a

diaphragm dividing this recess or chamber substantially into two equal portions, the forward portion holdingY the booster charge 16. This diaphragm 15 is in the form of a circular disk having a central aperture17 which is normally closed by centrifugal bolts 18 slidably held in transverse chambers 19- in disk 15 and normally urged toward the center of the same and into con- 1 tact with each other by springs 20. During flight of the projectile, and due kto the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the same these bolts are thrown outwardly, nD o compressingsprings 20, so that the detonator pellet 21 may be thrust ly the fuse mechanism throu h disk 15 an into the axial cavity 22 w ich is formed in the booster charge.

Arranged axiall in the chamber in rear of disk 15 is a cy indrical carrier block 25 slidably contained in a cylindrical inner sleeve 26 and also two additional sleevelike members 27 and 28 hereinafter called the intermediate and outer sleeves vrespectivel To the carrier block is threaded the etonator pellet container 21 previously referred to and also a disk-like primer holder 25* from which extends axially toward the rear of the fuse a spindle 25h which is slotted axially as shown in Figure 6. The primer is indicated 'at 25,

the firing hammer at 29, and the firing pin at 30, the firing hammer and rimer being hereinafter designated the rin'g elements. The firing hammer comprisesfan annular ring extending around the spindle 25" and having a diametrical bridge portion extending through the slot in the spindle to which portion the tiring pin 30 is secured.

To the rear end of spindle 25b issecured a disk 31 and between this disk and the firing hammer and encircling the spindle, is ositioned a s ring 32, which performs t e functions of) a firing spring, propelling the ring hammer toward the primer at the instant of firing. The forward outer edge of the firing lammer has a bevelled seating surface 33 which no1'- mally rests against corres ondingly bevelled surfaces 34 on the radia ly arranged ham'- :mer locking.- bolts 35. These bolts are slidably contalned in radial apertures in the inner sleeve 26 and normally block the forward movement of the firing hammer. This hammercan only move forward when these bolts are moved outwardly to clear the same, and the outward movement of the bolts is normally revented by the intermediate sleeve 27. 'llllis sleeve 1s provided with diametrically opposed slots 37 into which the outer ends of the locking bolts extend, the outer ends of these bolts bein notched however to receive the portions o the intermediate sleeve which constitute the forward margins of slots 37, as shown in Figure 1.

.A coiled spring 50 is positioned between the rear end of sleeve 26 and the closed end of the intermediate sleeve 27 and normally tends to thrustl these two members in o posite directions so that the interme iate sleeve, together with the Aouter sleeve 28 will normally press against the rear end of the Afuse body, andthe sleeve 26 is normally pressed against the rear face of the disk partition 15.

The outer sleeve 28 has a'recess 51 (preferably eccentric .to the axis of the fuse) in which is this ball intermediate sleeve 27 is against the outer sleeve. e outer s eeve may have a sli ht relative movement axially of the fuse y, its forward movement being limited however by a pin 54. The carrier 25 is provided with centrifugal locking bolts 55 which are normally pressed inwardly by springs 56, as shown in Figure 1, but which are adapted tooly outwardly while the rojectile is in flight, under the influence o centrifugal forces, and when the inner sleeve has moved rearward relatively to the carrier, as shown in Figure 2.

During transportation, and at all times before the projectile is fired, the fuse parts occupy the positions in which they are shown in Figure 1, as reviousl pointed out, the firing hammer being he d against forward movement by the hammer locking bolts 35 which are in turn held a ainst outward movement by the interme late sleeve 27. Upon firing, and while the projectile is receiving its acceleration, the parts are as illustrated in Figure 2, the sleeve 26 having moved rearwardly relatively to the other parts of the fuse due to its inertia, the springs 32 and 50 being compressed, and the locking bolts 55 having moved outwardly immediately upon the rearward movement of the sleeve.` The centrifugal force due to the rotation bf the shell being continuous during flight, the locking bolts will remain extended, and also bolts 18 will remain in their outer positions as shown in Figure 2. However upon the cessation of acceleration, the s ring 50 expands and moves the sleeve 26 orwardl to the position in which it is illustratedy in Figure 3. that is, to its original position. The firing spring 32 howeverremans com ressed since t e locking bolts 55 are enga b the forward end of the inner sleeve and t e carrier block together with the spindle and detonator pellet container 21 are moved forwardly by spring 50 simultaneously with the inner sleeve. Durin this rearward movement of the sleeve t e hammer locking bolts 35 have. of course disengaged the intermediate locking sleeve 27, but before they have had opportunity to ily outwardly their outer ends ave engaged the inner surface of the outer locking sleeve 28 so that such outward movement is positively prevented. 4 Y Upon impact of the projectile upon the target the intermediate and outer sleeves are moved forwardly, due to their inertia, as shown in Figure 4, spring 50 being again compressed by the intermediate sleeve. The forward movement of the outer sleeve is limited by'pin 54 as previously pointed out. Relative movement of the intermediate and outer sleeves allows the ball 52 to escape pgsitioned a small metallic ball 52, ing held therein so long as the ressed tightly l however results in relative axial movement of ythese members and this relative movement frees the outer ends of hammer locking bolts 35, as shown in Figure The hammer `is urged forwardly by the tiring sp1 mg and its inclined or bevelled faces act as cams upon the inner ends of the hammer locking bolts, thrusting them outwardly, so that the hammer is free to move forwardly, the firing .pin piercing the primer, as shown in Figure 5. The llame from-the primer is immediately conducted to the' detonator pellet which hasl of course entered the chamber containing-the booster charge and'4 hence detonation of the detonator pellet, booster charge/and projectile results. ,This detonation, it will be observed, has occurred at the instantwhen retardation of the projectile has ceased, and in case the projectile has pierced the armor of a vessel it will explode immediately inside and will effect a maximum destruction. In case the target encountered is impenetrablethe fuse willfunction when the projectile has come to rest and hence a maximum mining eli'ect will be realized.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new andv desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with afuse body, a

carrier block axially arranged in said body wardly,

and provided with a primer, and a firing pin in line with the primer, of a sleeve, a

'bolt supported by said sleeve and adapted to prevent the firing pin from prematurely contacting with the primer, a spring vfor impelling the firing pin, a secondspring for impelling the sleeve, and means for releasing the firing pin from the bolt operable only after impact and after retardation due to impact has ceased.

2. In a fuse of the character described, the combination with a firing. pin and primer, a sleeve surrounding the firing pin and carrying a bolt adapted to engage said pin and hold it out of contact with the primer, a spring impelling said sleeve fora second spring for impelling the firing pin into contact with the primer, said springs being compressed by set back of the sleeve on firing, and means operable to free the firing pin from the bolt upon impact followed by stoppage or further ree'travel of the projectile.

3. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of a' fuse body, a carrier block, a primer seated in said block, a -member extending from said block and having a spring abutment at the extended end, a tiring pinsli'dably mounted on said member, a spring interposed between the firing pin and said abutment, a movable part engaging the lir- Aing pin and adapted to compress said spring by set back on tiring the projectile, and means to release the spring, said latter means being operable only after impact with a target and after retardation has ceased.

t 4. In a fuse for projectiles, the combinatlon of a fuse body, a carrier block, a primer seated in said block, a movable firing pin in line with the primer, a spring for impelling the firing pin, an abutment for saidspring a sleeve surrounding the firing. pin, a bolt carried by said sleeve and normally engaging the firing-pin to hold the same out of contact with the primer, said sleeve a/nd bolt being ,1novable and adapted, to move the firing pin back and compress its spring by set back on firing the projectile, a second spring tending to impelthe said sleeve forward, means whereby the sleeve in its .for-v ward movement carries the firing pin with it, and means for releasing the firing pin from the bolt operable only after impact with a target and after retardation has ceased.

5. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of a carrier block, a primer mounted in the carrier block, a firing pin, a spring for the firing pin, an abutment for the spring, means connecting the abutment with the carrier block, a sleeve surrounding the carrier block and ltiring pin and movable relatively thereto, means onthe sleeve for engaging the firing pin -whereby set back of the sleeve on tiring a projectile will compress the firing pin spring, and means on the carrier block for engaging the sleeve in its set back position to hold thespring under tension.

6. In a fuse for projectiles, the combina,- tion of a lcarrier block, a primer mounted in llt) the carrier block, a firing pin, a spring for A the firing pin, an abutment for the spring, means connecting the abutment with the car rier block, a sleeve surrounding the carrierblock and firing pin and movable relatively thereto, means on the sleeve for engaging the firing pin whereby set back ofthe sleeve on firing a projectile will compress the firing pin spring, means on the carrier block for engaging the sleeve in its set back position to hold the spring under tension, the said carrier block being movable axially in the fuse, and a second spring for impelling the carrier block, sleeve and firing pm forward. and maintaining them in their for-y said inner sleeve and adapted to engage the firing pin, an intermediatesleeve havi'ng a slot therein and adapted to normally retain said bolt in contact with the firing pin, an outer sleeve also adapted to retain said bolt lincontact with the firing pin, and means operable only after impact of a projectile on a target to hold said intermediate and outer sleeves in such relation that the bolt may 'automatically move away from the firing pin and release the latter.

8. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of a fuse body, an exploding element, a firing pin movable toward said element, locking means to normally prevent 'said movement, a control means for said locking means comprising a pair of sleeve members normally held in fixed relation to each other,

, and adapted' to move relatively to each other upon impact of the projectile with an obstacle, and means operable u on impact to obstruct the return of said s eeve members to their. normal relative position, whereby the firing pin is released.

9. In a fuse for projectiles, the combina tion of a fuse body, an'exploding element, a firing pin movable toward said element, a locking means to normally prevent said movement, a control means for said locln'ng means comprising a sleeve member having an end wall, a second sleeve member having an end wall dished to form a recess, a spring constraining said sleeve members rearwardly,l the action of which is overcome by the inertia of said members upon impact, a xed stop positioned in the use body to limit the forward movement o the second .sleeve member, and a member normally disposed in said recess and which assumes a position between the end walls of the sleeves upon impact and impedes the return of the first sleeve member to its normal position Iat the amas cessation of ,retardation due to impact, whereby the locking means is released.

10. a fuse for projectiles, the combina. tion witha firing means ada ted to be energized u nv the initial acce erationof thc pro ecti e, of locking means for maintaining sai firing means inactive durin the flight of the lprojectile comprising a loc ing bolt, a sleeve member normally engagin said bolt to prevent outward movement t ereof and the release of the firing means, a second sleevesurrounding the first mentioned sleeve and'normally disengaged from the locking bolt, a spring constraining said sleeves to 'their normalgiositions, the action of which is overcome y the inertia of said sleeve members upon impact of the pro'ectile so that the first sleeve member will disengage the locking bolt and the second sleeve will engage the locking bolt to prevent outward movement thereof and release of the firing means during the period of retardation due to impact, and means operable at impact to obstruct the return of the first mentioned sleeve member to its normal position after cessation of retardation due to impact1 whereby the locking bolt moves outwardly and the firing means is released.

11. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination, with a firing mechanism adapted to be armed upon the initial acceleration of the projectile, of a locking means adapted to maintain said firing mechanism in its armed 'condition during the flight of the projectile vand release said mechanism upon cessation of retardation due to impact comprising a movable locking member, a pair of inertia members alternately en aging said locking member during the fiig t of the projectile to prevent the outward movement thereof and the release of the tiring mechanism, and means operable after impact to prevent engagement of either of said inertia members with the locking member, whereby the latter moves outwardly and releases the firing mechanism. l V

In testimony whereof I hereun't'oaiiix my signature.

'NEviL GREENWELL. 

